GITNUXREPORT 2025

Sociology Statistics

Global sociological issues highlight inequality, urbanization, health, and education challenges.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Approximately 56% of the world's population lives in urban areas as of 2023

Statistic 2

The median age in Japan is approximately 48.4 years, making it one of the world's oldest populations

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In 2022, about 11% of the world’s population was displaced due to conflict or persecution

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The global fertility rate has decreased from 5 children per woman in 1950 to about 2.4 in 2023

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The average household size in India is approximately 4.4 persons, one of the highest in the world

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Social media usage among teenagers is estimated at 63% in the US, with adolescents spending an average of 2-3 hours daily on these platforms

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Women constitute about 26% of national parliamentarians worldwide in 2023, an increase from 11% in 1995

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The unemployment rate among youth (ages 15-24) globally stands at approximately 14%, often higher than general adult unemployment

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The number of elderly people (65+) is expected to double by 2050, reaching over 1.5 billion globally

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The global urbanization rate is projected to reach 68% by 2050, significantly impacting social and infrastructural development

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Globally, women earn on average 20% less than men for equivalent work

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Approximately 25% of the global population has access to the internet, with significant disparities between high- and low-income countries

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Around 37% of the world's workforce was employed in agriculture in 2023

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Around 60% of the global population are consumers of formal financial services, leaving a substantial portion unbanked

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The percentage of people with access to electricity globally is over 90%, although rural areas lag behind urban regions

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Female labor force participation rate globally is around 48%, with significant variations across regions

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The rate of social mobility in many societies remains low, with studies indicating that upward mobility is most accessible to the middle class

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The literacy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa remains below 70%, compared to over 99% in North America

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In 2023, the global literacy rate for adults was estimated at 86%, with significant gender disparities favoring men in many regions

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Nearly 60% of children in low-income countries are not enrolled in primary school, highlighting disparities in education access

Statistic 21

In 2023, around 77 million children worldwide are out of school, with sub-Saharan Africa experiencing the highest numbers

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In 2022, the global literacy rate for women was 83%, compared to 88% for men, indicating a gender gap in education

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The proportion of children with access to early childhood education varies widely, with some low-income countries having rates below 20%

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In the United States, about 69% of adults are overweight or obese

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40% of teenagers worldwide report feeling persistent stress

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The mental health prevalence rate for depression is approximately 264 million people worldwide

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In Europe, approximately 15% of children aged 2-17 have experienced a mental disorder

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Over 1.5 billion people globally lack access to essential health services

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Approximately 55% of the world's population has access to improved sanitation facilities

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Around 18.5% of the population globally was living below the international poverty line of $1.90/day in 2023

Statistic 31

In 2022, about 25% of the global population lacked basic access to clean drinking water

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Approximately 15% of the global population suffers from some form of disability, affecting social participation and economic opportunities

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In 2022, about 22% of adolescents in low-income countries faced symptoms of anxiety or depression, higher than in high-income countries

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Around 60% of global youth are adequately insured for health, but disparities exist in low-income regions

Statistic 35

The prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse among adolescents varies globally but remains a significant public health concern

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In 2022, approximately 12% of adults worldwide experienced food insecurity, with higher rates in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

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Approximately 1 in 5 women globally experience intimate partner violence at some point in their lives

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Ethnic minorities often face higher levels of poverty and lower levels of educational attainment compared to majority populations

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The level of social trust varies significantly across countries, with Scandinavian countries typically scoring above 70 on trust indices

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The rate of child marriage remains high in parts of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, with rates exceeding 30% in some regions

Statistic 41

Approximately 35% of women worldwide have experienced intimate partner violence, impacting their social and economic participation

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Social inequality remains persistent, with the top 10% of earners earning up to 40% of total global income

Statistic 43

Approximately 80% of the world's population lives in countries that have recorded a decline in gender equality over the past decade

Statistic 44

Approximately 27% of the global population aged 15-24 are not engaged in employment, education, or training (NEET), affecting social mobility

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The incidence of social exclusion varies, but marginalized groups such as ethnic minorities and people with disabilities face increased barriers

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Approximately 37 million people are internally displaced within their own countries due to conflict as of 2023

Statistic 47

The number of people living with HIV/AIDS globally declined by approximately 30% between 2010 and 2023, but stigma remains a barrier to social inclusion

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Key Highlights

Approximately 56% of the world's population lives in urban areas as of 2023
In the United States, about 69% of adults are overweight or obese
Globally, women earn on average 20% less than men for equivalent work
The median age in Japan is approximately 48.4 years, making it one of the world's oldest populations
40% of teenagers worldwide report feeling persistent stress
Approximately 25% of the global population has access to the internet, with significant disparities between high- and low-income countries
In 2022, about 11% of the world’s population was displaced due to conflict or persecution
The literacy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa remains below 70%, compared to over 99% in North America
The global fertility rate has decreased from 5 children per woman in 1950 to about 2.4 in 2023
Around 37% of the world's workforce was employed in agriculture in 2023
The mental health prevalence rate for depression is approximately 264 million people worldwide
In Europe, approximately 15% of children aged 2-17 have experienced a mental disorder
Over 1.5 billion people globally lack access to essential health services

As our world hurtles towards unprecedented levels of urbanization, inequality, and social change, compelling statistics reveal the profound ways societal structures shape our lives—from gender disparities and mental health struggles to access to education and basic needs—highlighting the urgent need to understand the intricate fabric of human society.

Demographics and Age

Approximately 56% of the world's population lives in urban areas as of 2023
The median age in Japan is approximately 48.4 years, making it one of the world's oldest populations
In 2022, about 11% of the world’s population was displaced due to conflict or persecution
The global fertility rate has decreased from 5 children per woman in 1950 to about 2.4 in 2023
The average household size in India is approximately 4.4 persons, one of the highest in the world
Social media usage among teenagers is estimated at 63% in the US, with adolescents spending an average of 2-3 hours daily on these platforms
Women constitute about 26% of national parliamentarians worldwide in 2023, an increase from 11% in 1995
The unemployment rate among youth (ages 15-24) globally stands at approximately 14%, often higher than general adult unemployment
The number of elderly people (65+) is expected to double by 2050, reaching over 1.5 billion globally
The global urbanization rate is projected to reach 68% by 2050, significantly impacting social and infrastructural development

Demographics and Age Interpretation

As cities swell to house over two-thirds of humanity by 2050 amid aging populations, declining fertility, and digital teenage engagement, the world is sharply redefining its social fabric, where displacement, underrepresentation, and youth unemployment threaten to rewrite the human story from every corner.

Economic and Workforce Indicators

Globally, women earn on average 20% less than men for equivalent work
Approximately 25% of the global population has access to the internet, with significant disparities between high- and low-income countries
Around 37% of the world's workforce was employed in agriculture in 2023
Around 60% of the global population are consumers of formal financial services, leaving a substantial portion unbanked
The percentage of people with access to electricity globally is over 90%, although rural areas lag behind urban regions
Female labor force participation rate globally is around 48%, with significant variations across regions
The rate of social mobility in many societies remains low, with studies indicating that upward mobility is most accessible to the middle class

Economic and Workforce Indicators Interpretation

Despite progress in electrification and financial inclusion, persistent gender pay gaps, limited internet access, and low social mobility expose deep-rooted inequalities that challenge the dream of a truly equitable global society.

Education and Literacy

The literacy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa remains below 70%, compared to over 99% in North America
In 2023, the global literacy rate for adults was estimated at 86%, with significant gender disparities favoring men in many regions
Nearly 60% of children in low-income countries are not enrolled in primary school, highlighting disparities in education access
In 2023, around 77 million children worldwide are out of school, with sub-Saharan Africa experiencing the highest numbers
In 2022, the global literacy rate for women was 83%, compared to 88% for men, indicating a gender gap in education
The proportion of children with access to early childhood education varies widely, with some low-income countries having rates below 20%

Education and Literacy Interpretation

While global literacy has risen to 86%, persistent regional and gender disparities—particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where under 70% of adults can read and most children remain out of school—reveal that equitable education remains an urgent yet elusive goal worldwide.

Health and Well-being

In the United States, about 69% of adults are overweight or obese
40% of teenagers worldwide report feeling persistent stress
The mental health prevalence rate for depression is approximately 264 million people worldwide
In Europe, approximately 15% of children aged 2-17 have experienced a mental disorder
Over 1.5 billion people globally lack access to essential health services
Approximately 55% of the world's population has access to improved sanitation facilities
Around 18.5% of the population globally was living below the international poverty line of $1.90/day in 2023
In 2022, about 25% of the global population lacked basic access to clean drinking water
Approximately 15% of the global population suffers from some form of disability, affecting social participation and economic opportunities
In 2022, about 22% of adolescents in low-income countries faced symptoms of anxiety or depression, higher than in high-income countries
Around 60% of global youth are adequately insured for health, but disparities exist in low-income regions
The prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse among adolescents varies globally but remains a significant public health concern
In 2022, approximately 12% of adults worldwide experienced food insecurity, with higher rates in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

Health and Well-being Interpretation

While over two-thirds of American adults are overweight and nearly one in five teenagers worldwide battles chronic stress, the stark reality remains that more than a billion people lack essential health services and a significant portion of the global youth faces mental health crises and inadequate sanitation—highlighting that despite advancements, health inequities continue to underscore our collective struggle with societal well-being.

Social Issues and Inequalities

Approximately 1 in 5 women globally experience intimate partner violence at some point in their lives
Ethnic minorities often face higher levels of poverty and lower levels of educational attainment compared to majority populations
The level of social trust varies significantly across countries, with Scandinavian countries typically scoring above 70 on trust indices
The rate of child marriage remains high in parts of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, with rates exceeding 30% in some regions
Approximately 35% of women worldwide have experienced intimate partner violence, impacting their social and economic participation
Social inequality remains persistent, with the top 10% of earners earning up to 40% of total global income
Approximately 80% of the world's population lives in countries that have recorded a decline in gender equality over the past decade
Approximately 27% of the global population aged 15-24 are not engaged in employment, education, or training (NEET), affecting social mobility
The incidence of social exclusion varies, but marginalized groups such as ethnic minorities and people with disabilities face increased barriers
Approximately 37 million people are internally displaced within their own countries due to conflict as of 2023
The number of people living with HIV/AIDS globally declined by approximately 30% between 2010 and 2023, but stigma remains a barrier to social inclusion

Social Issues and Inequalities Interpretation

These statistics unveil a stark tableau of persistent inequality, social exclusion, and health disparities—reminding us that while some nations thrive on trust and equality, vast swaths of the global population continue to grapple with violence, poverty, and marginalization, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change.